Man dies, dozens injured over heat during Tel Aviv's half-marathon

TEL AVIV. March 15. KAZINFORM One person died and more than a dozen were seriously injured after experiencing heat strokes while running in the Tel Aviv half-marathon on Friday, held at a scorching heat of 35 degrees.

According to Xinhua, Magen David Adom (MDA) rescue workers have evacuated 15 seriously injured runners to nearby hospitals and over 50 people overall were given medical attention throughout the half-marathon.

Several of the seriously injured runners are ventilated, MDA spokesperson Zaki Heller informed.

"MDA services took care of runners who passed out. Five of the injured people sustained serious injuries and one of them is fighting for his life," Heller told Xinhua.

"These are all young people, in their 30's, suffering from hyperthermia. This year the cases are very difficult," he added.

The 29 year-old man lost his life during the half-marathon (10 km), which took place instead of the full marathon (42.2 km) which was scheduled for today, but was postponed due to the extreme heat.

The marathon started at 5:30 a.m. and 35,000 people took part in it, organizers told the Ha'aretz daily.

Two years ago a 42 year-old man who ran the city's marathon had died after suffering from hyperthermia, in April 2011. That year, 15 people needed medical attention, three sustained serious injuries.